NORWALK -- A city man and woman landed in jail on robbery charges after police matched her ripped $20 bill with its other half, which was in the possession of a knife-wiedling man who said he had been mugged.

Police officer Russell Ouellette was driving in South Norwalk at 10:03 p.m. Tuesday when he saw two men "swinging at each other" outside 107 S. Main St., according to a police report.

Ouellette stopped and told Rigoberto Romero, 44, of 107 S. Main St., Norwalk, to drop a knife he was holding, which he did immediately.

Romero told police Rosalie Vega, 30, of 90 Woodward Ave., Norwalk, offered him sex for $20 and the two were walking into Romero's apartment when Vega reached into his right pocket and grabbed for his money, the report said.

Romero said he tried to block Vega's hand but she pulled an undisclosed amount of cash from his pocket and ran to the street.

There, Romero said she met William Edwards, 42, also of Norwalk, and pointed out Romero, telling Edwards to get the rest of his money.

Romero said he pulled out a knife to defend himself from Edwards' fists as officers showed up, Romero told police.

Vega and Edwards told police they were walking by 107 S. Main when Romero came out of his home and thrust his knife at them.

Vega, who told police she had no money and could not have possibly tried to grab any bills from Romero's pocket, said Romero tried to cut her face.

Edwards said Romero almost stabbed him in the chest.

Based on the accusations of Edwards and Vega, police arrested Romero and charged him with second-degree assault, criminal attempt at second-degree assault and patronizing a prostitute.

But when the three were taken to the station and Romero continued to insist Vega and Edwards robbed him, police discovered half of the $20 bill in his pocket.

Ouellette walked into the lobby as Vega waiting for Edwards to complete his sworn statement.

"(I) told Vega I was going to put an end to Romero's account that Vega had stolen money from him. I told her a female officer was going to search her to see if she had any money," Ouellette's police report said.

Vega got an odd look on her face and stated, "I just remembered that I have $11 on me," the report said.

Vega reached into her pants and pulled out two $5s, the report said.

"I noticed that Vega was holding something in her left hand, so I told her to open her hand," Ouellette said in his report.

Vega said, "Oh, that's just a ripped one-dollar bill that I found," the report said.

When she placed it on the table, the bill turned out to be half of a ripped $20 bill, the report said.

When Ouellette placed Romero's half next to hers, the double-sawbuck's rips matched exactly, as did the serial numbers on both ends of the bill, the report said.

"I advised Vega she was under arrest for robbery and I handcuffed her and walked her into the booking cage without incident," Ouellette's report said.

Vega was charged with second-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery and prostitution. She was held by police in lieu of $5,000 bond.

At her arraignment before Judge Maureen Dennis on Wednesday, Vega pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Edwards was charged with second-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery, possession of drug paraphernalia within 1,500 feet of a school, and held in lieu of $5,000 bond. He also pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday.

Romero, who had his second-degree assault charge dropped, but still faces one charge each of patronizing a prostitute and criminal attempt at second-degree assault, was released on $200 bond.

Staff Writer John Nickerson can be reached at john.nickerson@scni.com or 964-2320.